Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-12-03

- BWter.
The "tirst three desire to thank
Y. y. U. II. for the saccharine re-
ward.
The "home-folks" beamed on US
benignantly this week.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF a KEY.
AS there are few persons who en-
joy long narrative, unless it is es-
pecially interesting, shall make this
history of my life as short as possible.
| have not always been so hand
some and shapely as | now am. Only |
few years ago | was as ugly and |
rough as a common stone. For many |
long years had lain in this condi-
ton far beneath the soil of the grand |
old state of Tennessee, never hearing
asound save the rumbling of an earth
quake,
About the year IS, some enter
prising capitalists found that that
part of Tennessee in which | lay con-
tanned iron ore, and they immediate
ly purchased large tract of the land
and erected a furnace in which to
purify the ore and put it into such
condition that it might be made into
useful and ornamental articles.
After having been passed through
an intolerable heat, l came out free
from all impurities, and ready for
other trials which I might have to
undergo.
My hardships at this time of my
life were so numerous, and had such
an effect upon me, that | can recall
very few of the processes by which
my nature and form were changed.
AS the ore from which / was made
was not of superior quality, and
was, therefore, not suitable for other
purposes, it was decided that trunk
keys should be made of the iron.
had the highest ambition of be-
ing made into some article which
would occupy position Of impor-
lance in the world; but alas "Disap-
pointment is the lot of all, 'and must
content myself with being an humble
trunk key.
After having been made into this
form, l was packed in a box with
many other keys, and sent far away
from my native home.
Most Of this journey was made on
the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers,
and we finally reached New Orleans,
where our journey ended. We were
here placed in dark, dusty ware
house, where we remained for a
week, with rats and mice as our sole
living companions. From the ware.
house we were removed to a whole
sale trunk establishment in the heart
of the city, and each of us was as
signed trunk for which we were t
do service the rest Of our lives.
The trunk to which l was assigned
was large and strong, and felt very
insignificant when brought near it
In few days gentleman came il
and inquired for substantial trunk
and this was shown him. 1t pleased
him SO much that he purchased it
and the merchant sent it to his house
without any delay. .e.l
On reaching the house, we found i
. in state of excitement. We were
DESTROYS of ascertaining the cause o
this, but not wishing to be thought in
quisitive, we remained quietly in thu
hall where we had been placed.
Presently our patience was reward
ed, for from a conversation between
mother and daughter, we learned
that the young lady intended to leave
for boarding-school the next morn
ing. This, then, was what caused
that great disturbance, which, if i
had not been the month of August
/ would have thought was sprins
house-cleaning. " -,..a
There was not room into which
could see, that tidy house-keepe
, would like for a stranger to enter.
Every few moments / could hea
the young lady forwhom these pre-
paratiOns were being made, cry out
"Mamma, bring my gossamer
please" "Did you put the perfume
away?" 81 wonder what l did will
those Gloves and this continued t.
a late hour of the night, when tn
packing of the trunk was completed
Early on the following morning tn
young lady tade adieu to home ant
friends and started for school. l wa
forgotten and left on the dresser il
her own room at home, and she di
not discover the fact until she ha